On this page, you will find tools and resources on child protection in emergencies from the CPWG, member agencies, and other sources. Key publications are displayed on top of each section for easy reference. Please note that there is a wealth of further resources in each section, and …
If you would like technical assistance on any kind of challenge you are currently facing in child protection in emergencies, you can either: ask for advice and examples via the CPWG discussion forum, or contact an expert from the CPWG technical helpdesk. Please note …
The page is currently under construction and an interactive map will soon be available. In the meantime, please visit humanitarianresponse.info for more up-to-date country information. LATEST UPDATE ON SYRIA The conflict in Syria has resulted in the deaths of up …
All the latest news on upcoming events and trainings organised or related to the CPWG are listed here. You can also find a detailed list on trainings taking place allover the world, including training packages, essential reading and meeting reports. …
NEW! Dear global level CPWG members and associates; field based coordinators of child protection; and regional child protection advisors, kindly click to download the final version of the Child Protection Working Group’s 2013 -2015 workplan. This is a short description of …
Please enter this section to view all current vacancies related to Child Protection in Emergencies at global and field level, from international agencies to national NGOs. The section also provides contacts and direct links to apply for the latest position. …
Established through secondments from member agencies, the CPWG Rapid Response Team (RRT) provides high quality, rapidly deployable Child Protection coordination and technical capacity in humanitarian situations. Deployments are made to UNICEF, as Sub-Cluster lead agency for Child Protection, at the country …
Visit the Child Protection Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Action page
What is the Child Protection Working Group?
The Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) is the global level forum for coordination and collaboration on child protection in humanitarian settings. The group brings together NGOs, UN agencies, academics and other partners under the shared objective of ensuring more predictable, accountable and effective child protection responses in emergencies.
What is child protection in emergencies?
The CPWG defines child protection in emergencies (CPiE) as “the prevention of and response to abuse, neglect, exploitation of and violence against children in emergencies.” This contrasts with the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) definition of protection, which includes all human rights. In practice, child protection work includes specific programmes run by child protection specialists, as well as actions integrated into all other humanitarian sectors.
Who are the members of the CPWG?
The CPWG brings together NGOs, UN agencies, and other international partners, all working in line with the ‘Principles of Partnership’, endorsed by the Global Humanitarian Platform. In the humanitarian system, the CPWG constitutes an ‘Area of Responsibility’ within the Global Protection Cluster. At the global level, UNICEF leads on the coordination of the CPWG and is also the ‘provider of last resort’. All group members then lead on the implementation of CPWG initiatives and drive the development of the work-plan. Many of the strong inter-agency relationships within the global CPWG are also reflected in field-level child protection coordination groups.
How does the CPWG carry out its work?
Annual planning meetings are held to exchange field-level experiences, review current trends and gaps in the field of child protection, and to develop an inter-agency work-plan to strengthen child protection responses. Current initiatives include developing operational standards for child protection; enhancing the capacity of the child protection in emergencies workforce; improving assessment of child protection needs; strengthening child protection coordination in emergencies and raising the profile of and support for the sector. In order to achieve its goals, the CPWG works closely with other sectoral groups, such as those working on protection, gender-based violence, mental health, psychosocial support and education.
The Geneva-based CPWG coordinator and the Rapid Response Team (RRT) provide support to field level child protection coordination groups. More specifically, the RRT provides high quality, rapidly deployable child protection coordination and technical capacity in humanitarian situations.
Who funds the Child Protection Working Group?
Member agencies commit resources and staff time to CPWG work. Additionally ECHO, DFID, NORAD, DANIDA, SIDA, SDA and UNICEF have contributed funds for work-plan initiatives, as well as the staffing of the coordination function.
For further information regarding the Child Protection Working Group, including our current activities, the Rapid Response Team and other resources supporting child protection programmes at field level, please contact Katy Barnett, cbarnett@unicef.org or go to www.cpwg.net.
Download a printer friendly version of this CPWG One Pager
Download the CPWG Terms of Reference
Download the Membership paper on how to engage with the CPWG as member and other options
[1] The other areas of responsibility under the protection cluster are: gender-based violence, housing land and property issues and mine action.
[2] This contrasts with the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) definition of protection which includes all human rights.
[3] present participants include: Childfund, Child Soldiers International, Columbia University, Child Protection In Crisis Network, Danish Refugee Council, Displaced Children and Orphans Fund USAID, European Commission Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, Family for Every Child, Geneva Call, Heartland Alliance, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Bureau for Children’s Rights, Norwegian Refugee Council, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, International Rescue Committee, International Labour Organisation, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Keeping Children Safe Coalition, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes, US Government State Department Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration, The International Institute for Child Rights and Development, UK Department for International Development, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, War Child Holland, War Child UK, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, and World Vision International.
*Homepage photograph credits: © UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0814/Holt
Click on the thumbnail below to find the latest Quarterly Bulletin (December 2012- April 2013), issued 16th April 2013. The next CPWG Quarterly Bulletin will be issued in July 2013. Please send any contributions directly to cbarnett@unicef.org.
Recent Bulletins:
CPWG Quarterly Bulletin, issued December 2012
CPWG Quarterly Bulletin, issued August 2012
CPWG Quarterly Bulletin, issued April 2012
CPWG Quarterly Bulletin, issued January 2012
CPWG Quarterly Bulletin, issued October 2011
